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Ascension’s Ascension Via Christi, a long-time provider of outpatient care in Derby, has expanded its community presence by investing in the 31-bed acute care hospital, ambulatory surgery center and medical complex being developed by CBC Real Estate and PartnersHealth.

On Friday, Oct. 26, Via Christi finalized its 25 percent ownership interest in Rock Medical Assets, an entity comprised of local investors, real estate developers and private capital firms. Via Christi, whose Derby primary care clinic moved into a newly constructed building last October, will have a seat on the hospital board. Candor Healthcare, a Dallas-based healthcare management firm, in collaboration with local physicians, will manage the day-to-day operations of Rock Regional Hospital and Rock Surgery Center, an ambulatory surgical center.

“The hospital and ambulatory surgical center will become part of the Via Christi clinically integrated network, which is important to employers like Spirit AeroSystems, which has chosen us as its preferred network provider of care for its Wichita-area employees, many of whom live in and around Derby,” said Michael Mullins, chief executive officer for Ascension Via Christi and Kansas ministry market executive and senior vice president for Ascension Healthcare.

Currently, the closest full-service hospital for Derby residents is Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph, which is approximately 12 miles north of Derby.

Last year, Rock Medical Assets purchased the ambulatory surgical center from Derby Family Medicine, today known as Rock Surgery Center; it has four operating rooms designed for same-day procedures. Also, in 2017 construction of the 89,000-square-foot Rock Regional Hospital began. The multi-specialty hospital will offer 24 medical-surgical suites, seven intensive care beds, four operating rooms, two procedure rooms and two heart catheterization labs. It is expected to open the first quarter of 2019.

“This partnership with Via Christi will bring collaboration with the largest clinically integrated network in Kansas,” said Jason Eitutis, Rock Regional Hospital's chief executive officer. "It’s very exciting for Rock Regional and for the city of Derby."

Roz Hutchinson is a Wichita wife, mother and chief spoiler of six grandkids and three Chihuahuas, a die-hard women's basketball fan, and director of Communications and Public Relations for Ascension Via Christi.